The King Who Makes Your Bed?
Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…”
When we were dead spiritually to the things of the Spirit and the Word of God – Jesus made us ALIVE by the Spirit. But how did He make us alive? How is He making us alive? Any quick read of Ephesians 2 will cause you to notice one common theme arising from Paul’s focus. What is that theme? – Eph. 2:5 “…[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).”
Eph. 2:7 “He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor)…”
Eph. 2:8 “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith…”
Grace is Paul’s theme, and it is Grace that saved us, is saving us, and will save us. But how would you illustrate this Grace? There’s a beautiful book I have been reading for seminary from the Puritan Classics (Puritans existed back in the 16th and 17th Centuries – think the Mayflower) entitled “The Blessed and Boundless God” by George Swinnock. Swinnock illustrates Grace in a beautiful way. In fact if you read and picture it carefully it should grab a hold of your heart – like it did mine. Swinnock writes, “We would think it a great grace…” Stop right there. We would think it a great grace if what? “For a human king… to take care of a poor beggar; to provide him with food, shelter, medicine, and safety; to supply him in all his needs, support him in all his weaknesses, protect him in all his dangers, and deliver him in all his distresses; to spread his table, provide his food, clothe his body, and make his bed; to protect him, counsel him, and assist him. The King of kings (to whom all earthly kings are but dirt and dung) does more than this!” Swinnock continues, “Oh what grace that the incomparable God (who has millions of glorious angels serving Him) should serve poor worms!” Imagine a king that makes paupers beds and spreads their tables. Is this even fathomable or possible?
What is Grace? Your King, the KING of all kings, and LORD of all lords – spreading your table? Making your bed? What kind of King is this? Ephesians 2:5 “…He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ…” In other words this King wants to fellowship with us. This King – who spreads your table, and makes your bed – brings you into union, oneness, with Jesus. Everything that belongs to the King belongs to you; belongs to me. When a man marries a woman everything that belongs to the man now belongs to the wife and everything that belongs to the wife belongs to the husband (unless you have a “pre-nup”). When Jesus united you to Him – He “married” you. All your sins, shame, condemnation, failures, iniquities, transgressions, etc. – became His. But guess what? Everything that is His now belongs to you!!! His righteousness, His resurrection power, His innocence, His purity, His holiness, His Glory, His Kingdom, His dominion, His inheritance, this earth. EVERYTHING… belongs to all those who are in fellowship and union with Christ by the Spirit; by His Word; in and through His precious promises. That’s My King! As S.M. Lockridge once asked, “Do you know Him!?”
Now if that doesn’t bring a tear to your eye and make you want to shout, I really don’t know what to do to help you. As the Apostle Paul added, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ….?” (see Rom. 8)
